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BP Markowitz, USPS, and Food Bank For New York City Kick Off 'Stamp Out Hunger!" Food Drive in Brooklyn

May 9 – 14 Drop Off Canned Goods At Your Local Post Office And Help Provide Hunger Relief To Approx. 500,000 Brooklynites Who Rely on Emergency Food

Brooklyn, NY, May 2, 2011 - Beginning Monday, May 9, the letter carriers of Brooklyn, in conjunction with the United States Postal Service, will join forces with the Food Bank For New York City as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger! food drive effort. The food drive will culminate on Saturday, May 14—which will mark the nation’s largest single-day food drive.

Today at noon, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz hosted the kick off of Brooklyn’s Stamp Out Hunger! effort at Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, in Downtown Brooklyn. Joining the Borough President were Kim Keller, Director of Member Services for the Food Bank For New York City; Carmen Fede, Postmaster, Brooklyn, New York; Angelo Mangano, President, Branch 41, NALC; and Brooklyn letter carriers—all of whom are supporting Stamp Out Hunger! Together, they made the first donation of food items to Brooklyn residents in need.

Throughout the week, everyone can help Stamp Out Hunger! in Brooklyn by making a delivery of non-perishable food items like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and rice, at your local post office. All food donations will be repacked by the Food Bank and redistributed to community and emergency food programs to help families in need. There are more than 300 emergency food programs in Brooklyn—approximately one-third of the 1,000 programs throughout New York City. You can also donate by the click of your mouse. Just log on to www.foodbanknyc.org.

“Right now, approximately 3 million New York City residents are reporting having difficulty affording needed food for themselves and their families, including thirty-nine percent of all Brooklyn residents. In addition, Food Bank research tell us that Brooklynites are making sacrifices such as reducing their food intake and the quality of the their food in order to get by financially,” said Lucy Cabrera, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Food Bank For New York. “As a result, increased demand for assistance at emergency food organizations is far outweighing support for available food and services. Food collected during Stamp Out Hunger! will certainly help offset the rising demand for food.”

“Thirty-nine percent of Brooklyn residents experienced difficulty affording needed food last year, and that is simply unacceptable in a nation like ours,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Far too many of our fellow New Yorkers are going to bed hungry, especially in Brooklyn, which has more soup kitchens and food pantries than any other borough. While that shows Brooklynites care about the issue of hunger and providing for friends and neighbors who are struggling to get even the most basic foods, our borough still has great need. And that’s why, again this year, I am proud to team up with the National Association of Letter Carriers and the Food Bank For New York City to ‘Stamp Out Hunger’—and I urge everyone to give what they can and work toward the day when no Brooklynite or New Yorker goes hungry.”

Said Brooklyn Postmaster, Carmen Fede, “This is a crucial time in Brooklyn and the rest of the country. Many Americans are suffering due to a difficult economic climate. Our mission today is simple—to ask everyone to help spread the word and make a canned food donation to combat hunger. Brooklyn residents are being asked to drop-off non-perishable food items in special “Stamp Out Hunger!” collection bins in postal lobbies from May 9 through May 14. Non-perishable donations like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal, and rice are suggested.”

President Angelo Mangano, Branch 41 NALC stated, “Once again Brooklyn Letter Carriers will continue in their efforts to help feed individuals less fortunate. On May 9th our brother and sister letter carriers across this nation will participate in the national food drive Stamp Out Hunger! Letter carriers not only deliver your mail but we’ll help by delivering food to area food banks to assist individuals in our community.”

In Brooklyn: Forty-eight percent of Brooklyn residents would not be able to afford food within three months of losing their household income

In Brooklyn: In 2010, twenty-six percent of Brooklyn residents had to choose between paying for food and rent/mortgage (which is higher than the city average of 23%)

In Brooklyn: There are more than 300 emergency food programs—approximately one-third of the 1,000 programs throughout New York City that are served by the Food Bank For New York City.

About the Food Bank For New York CityFood Bank For New York City recognizes 28 years as the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the city’s hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of approximately 1,000 community-based member programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank’s hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. 94% of donations go directly toward food distribution, acquisition and programs in all five boroughs of New York City. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.